On 3rd Apr 2023, I was asked to show my bag and when I asked why are you doing bag check all of a sudden, the staff in the counter said they do it every time and to all customers and it is mandatory, (I am sure it is not mandatory as I have been visiting this Aldi for more than 2 years and with same bag or even bag bigger than this but never I was asked to open my bag and show. I would have left it if they have said it is random as any other supermarket or shops but they gave an incorrect info for the sake of argument in my opinion) When I said I have been coming to North Strathfield Aldi for more than 2 years now he said no it is a policy across all Aldi stores in Australia and they have to do it. But I was never asked to show my bag before. I spoke to shift/store Manager Sabin and he said the same that it is a policy and he asked some baseless questions like You live in Australia right? Don’t you know about bag check policy. I told him to just talk about North Strathfield Aldi for now and said I have been coming to this store for almost 2 years or more than that and with same backpack for multiple times and I was never asked to show my bag before, he replied saying you said that you are coming to this store frequently but I have never seen you before. I felt this is one of the worst senseless thing a store manager can say. I hope Aldi can introduce a swipe card where I can swipe and swipe off whenever I visit Aldi and I can prove them when asked I have never seen you in this store. But just to prove I have sent my transaction history when I raised a formal incident with Aldi.
Both the staff at the counter and the manager Sabin said it is a mandatory process that they need to check everyone and even manager Sabin explained if the bag is bigger than A4 paper size they need to do this check and it is mandatory. But I carried the same bag even bigger bags before and I was never asked to show my bag before. I felt that the store manager and the staff just gave a fake information that it is a mandatory check just for the sake winning the argument. When it was not done before by other staffs, Manager Sabin said then what the other staffs are doing is incorrect.
When he doesn’t know what is going on with his own staff, I am not sure how can he ask me if I live in Australia and how come I don’t know about bag check policy. It sounded very silly to me.
Again on 5th Apr 2023 I visited Aldi North Strathfield once again with the same bag, but this time I was not asked to show my bag. After billing is done I asked why are you not checking the bag and the staff said that I am a frequent customer and no need to check. I explained that 2 days back their manager said it is mandatory to check every bag that is bigger that A4 sheet size and voluntarily opened my bag and showed it to them.
Now, Why Aldi is so confused with their policy. Now am not sure if bag check is mandatory or random? As per Mr. Sabin it is mandatory but I don’t think it is happening as he has mentioned. They can check their CCTV footage if they need to confront my claim. If it is not mandatory on what basis or on what profiling they checked my bag on 3rd Apr 2023? And on what basis the Manager Sabin and staff (Don’t know his name) confirmed me that it is a mandatory check that they are doing it to all customers when it is not true?
Overall your staff’s explanation on bag check policy is nor realistic. Better make a policy that is transparent and common for all and educate your staff’s about it.
And to add, I have raised my concerns formally with Aldi too, but got an update with apology that they are busy with Easter sales and will come back by next week. So thanks for this awesome customer service. Money will follow if customers are happy- just my opinion. I am no expert. You know business better than me.
